rl.thebourneultimatum-第3章

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lse。　That's　the　dumbest　thing　you　can　do　around　here。〃
　〃From　what　we　heard　about　Hong　Kong；　you　did　a　hell　of　a　job；　Alex；〃　said　the　man　named　Casset　softly。　〃We　didn't　want　to　detract　from　that。〃
　〃You've　been　a　pain　in　the　ass　for　longer　than　I　care　to　remember；〃　added　Valentino。　〃But　we　couldn't　let　you　hang　out　as　an　accident　of　booze。〃
　〃Forget　it。　Let's　get　back　to　Jason　Bourne。　That's　why　I'm　here；　why　you　damn　well　had　to　see　me。〃
　〃That's　also　why　I　momentarily　sidetracked　us；　Mr。　Conklin。　You　have　professional　differences　with　my　deputies；　but　I　gather　you　don't　question　their　integrity。〃
　〃Others；　yes。　Not　Casset　or　Val。　As　far　as　I　was　concerned；　they　did　their　jobs　and　I　did　mine；　it　was　the　system　that　was　fouled　up…it　was　buried　in　fog。　But　this　isn't；　today　isn't。　The　rules　are　clear…cut　and　absolute；　and　since　I　wasn't　reached；　they　were　broken　and　I　was　misled；　in　a　very　real　sense；　lied　to。　I　repeat。　How　did　it　happen　and　who　got　the　information？〃
　〃That's　all　I　wanted　to　hear；〃　said　the　director；　picking　up　the　telephone　on　the　table。　〃Please　call　Mr。　DeSole　down　the　hall　and　ask　him　to　e　to　the　conference　room。〃　The　DCI　hung　up　and　turned　to　Conklin。　〃I　assume　you're　aware　of　Steven　DeSole。〃
　〃DeSole　the　mute　mole。〃　Alex　nodded。
　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃
　〃It's　an　old　joke　around　here；〃　explained　Casset　to　the　director。　〃Steve　knows　where　the　bodies　are　buried；　but　when　the　time　es　he　won't　even　tell　God　unless　He　shows　him　a　Four　Zero　clearance。〃
　〃I　assume　that　means　the　three　of　you；　especially　Mr。　Conklin；　consider　Mr。　DeSole　a　thorough　professional。〃
　〃I'll　answer　that；〃　Alex　said。　〃He'll　tell　you　anything　you　have　to　know　but　no　more　than　that。　Also；　he　won't　lie。　He'll　keep　his　mouth　shut；　or　tell　you　he　can't　tell　you；　but　he　won't　lie　to　you。〃
　〃That's　another　thing　I　wanted　to　hear。〃　There　was　a　brief　knock　on　the　door；　and　the　DCI　called　out　for　the　visitor　to　enter。　A　medium…sized；　slightly　overweight　man　with　wide　eyes　magnified　behind　steel…rimmed　glasses　walked　into　the　room；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　His　casual　second　glance　at　the　table　revealed　Alexander　Conklin　to　him；　he　was　obviously　startled　by　the　sight　of　the　retired　intelligence　officer。　Instantly；　he　changed　his　reaction　to　one　of　pleasant　surprise；　crossing　to　Conklin's　chair；　his　hand　extended。
　〃Good　to　see　you；　old　boy。　It's　been　two　or　three　years　now；　hasn't　it？〃
　〃More　like　four；　Steve；〃　replied　Alex；　shaking　hands。　〃How's　the　analysts'　analyst　and　keeper　of　the　keys？〃
　〃Not　much　to　analyze　or　to　lock　up　these　days。　The　White　House　is　a　sieve　and　the　Congress　isn't　much　better。　I　should　get　half　pay；　but　don't　tell　anyone。〃
　〃We　still　keep　some　things　to　ourselves；　don't　we？〃　interrupted　the　DCI；　smiling。　〃At　least　from　past　operations。　Perhaps　you　earned　double　your　pay　then。〃
　〃Oh；　I　suspect　I　did。〃　DeSole　nodded　his　head　humorously　as　he　released　Conklin's　hand。　〃However；　the　days　of　archive　custodians　and　armed　transfers　to　underground　warehouses　are　over。　Today　it's　all　puterized　photo　scans　entered　by　machines　from　on　high。　I　don't　get　to　go　on　those　wonderful　trips　any　longer　with　military　escorts；　pretending　I'll　be　deliciously　attacked　by　Mata　Hari。　I　haven't　had　a　briefcase　chained　to　my　wrist　since　I　can't　remember　when。〃
　〃A　lot　safer　that　way；〃　said　Alex。
　〃But　very　little　I　can　tell　my　grandchildren　about；　old　boy。　。。。　'What　did　you　do　as　a　big　spy；　Grandpa？'。。。　'Actually；　in　my　last　years；　a　great　many　crossword　puzzles；　young　man。'　〃
　〃Be　careful；　Mr。　DeSole；〃　said　the　DCI；　chuckling。　〃I　shouldn't　care　to　put　in　a　remendation　to　cut　your　pay。　。。。　On　the　other　hand；　I　couldn't；　because　I　don't　believe　you　for　an　instant。〃
　〃Neither　do　I。〃　Conklin　spoke　quietly；　angrily。　〃This　is　a　setup；〃　he　added；　staring　at　the　overweight　analyst。
　〃That's　quite　a　statement；　Alex；〃　countered　DeSole。　〃Would　you　mind　explaining　it？〃
　〃You　know　why　I'm　here；　don't　you？〃
　〃I　didn't　know　you　were　here。〃
　〃Oh；　I　see。　It　just　happened　to　be　convenient　for　you　to　be　'down　the　hall'　and　ready　to　e　in　here。〃
　〃My　office　is　down　the　hall。　Quite　far　down；　I　might　add。〃
　Conklin　looked　at　the　DCI。　〃Again；　very　smooth；　sir。　Bring　in　three　people　you　figure　I've　had　no　major　run…ins　with　outside　of　the　system　itself；　three　men　you've　determined　I　basically　trust；　so　I'll　believe　whatever's　said。〃
　〃That's　fundamentally　accurate；　Mr。　Conklin；　because　what　you'll　hear　is　the　truth。　Sit　down；　Mr。　DeSole。　。。。　Perhaps　at　this　end　of　the　table　so　that　our　former　colleague　can　study　us　as　we　explain　to　him。　I　understand　it's　a　technique　favored　by　field　officers。〃
　〃I　haven't　a　damn　thing　to　explain；〃　said　the　analyst　as　he　headed　for　the　chair　next　to　Casset。　〃But　in　light　of　our　former　colleague's　somewhat　gross　remarks；　I'd　like　to　study　him。　。。。　Are　you　well；　Alex？〃
　〃He's　well；〃　answered　the　deputy　director　named　Valentino。　〃He's　snarling　at　the　wrong　shadows　but　he's　well。〃
　〃That　information　couldn't　have　surfaced　without　the　consent　and　cooperation　of　the　people　in　this　room！〃
　〃What　information？〃　asked　DeSole；　looking　at　the　DCI；　suddenly　widening　his　large　eyes　behind　his　glasses。　〃Oh；　the　max…classified　thing　you　asked　me　about　this　morning？〃
　The　director　nodded；　then　looked　at　Conklin。　〃Let's　go　back　to　this　morning。　。。。　Seven　hours　ago；　shortly　after　nine　o'clock；　I　received　a　call　from　Edward　McAllister；　formerly　of　the　State　Department　and　currently　chairman　of　the　National　Security　Agency。　I'm　told　Mr。　McAllister　was　with　you　in　Hong　Kong；　Mr。　Conklin；　is　that　correct？〃
　〃Mr。　McAllister　was　with　us；〃　agreed　Alex　flatly。　〃He　flew　undercover　with　Jason　Bourne　to　Macao；　where　he　was　shot　up　so　badly　he　damn　near　died。　He's　an　intellectual　oddball　and　one　of　the　bravest　men　I've　ever　met。〃
　〃He　said　nothing　about　the　circumstances；　only　that　he　was　there；　and　I　was　to　shred　my　calendar；　if　need　be；　but　to　consider　our　meeting　with　you　as　Priority　Red。　。。。　Heavy　artillery；　Mr。　Conklin。〃
　〃To　repeat。　There　are　heavy　reasons　for　the　cannons。〃
　〃Apparently。　。。。　Mr。　McAllister　gave　me　the　precise　maximum…classified　codes　that　would　clarify　the　status　of　the　file　you're　talking　about…the　record　of　the　Hong　Kong　operation。　I；　in　turn；　gave　the　information　to　Mr。　DeSole；　so　I'll　let　him　tell　you　what　he　learned。〃
　〃It　hasn't　been　touched；　Alex；〃　said　DeSole　quietly；　his　eyes　leveled　on　Conklin。　〃As　of　nine…thirty　this　morning；　it's　been　in　a　black　hole　for　four　years；　five　months；　twenty…one　days；　eleven　hours　and　forty…three　minutes　without　penetration。　And　there's　a　very　good　reason　why　that　status　is　pure；　but　I　have　no　idea　whether　you're　aware　of　it　or　not。〃
　〃Where　that　file　is　concerned　I'm　aware　of　everything！〃
　〃Perhaps；　perhaps　not；〃　said　DeSole　gently。　〃You　were　known　to　have　a　problem；　and　Dr。　Panov　is　not　that　experienced　where　security　matters　are　concerned。〃
　〃What　the　hell　are　you　driving　at？〃
　〃A　third　name　was　added　to　the　clearance　procedures　for　that　official　record　on　Hong　Kong。　。。。　Edward　Newington　McAllister；　by　his　own　insistence　and　with　both　presidential　and　congressional　authority。　He　made　sure　of　it。〃
　〃Oh；　my　God；〃　said　Conklin　softly；　hesitantly。　〃When　I　called　him　last　night　from　Baltimore　he　said　it　was　impossible。　Then　he　said　I　had　to　understand　for　myself；　so　he'd　set　up　the　conference。　。。。　Jesus；　what　happened？〃
　〃I'd　say　we'd　have　to　look　elsewhere；〃　said　the　DCI。　〃But　before　we　do　that；　Mr。　Conklin；　you　have　to　make　a　decision。　You　see；　none　of　us　at　this　table　knows　what's　in　that　maximum　classified　file。　。。。　We've　talked；　of　course；　and　as　Mr。　Casset　said；　we　understood　that　you　did　a　hell　of　a　job　in　Hong　Kong；　but　we　don't　know　what　that　job　was。　We　heard　the　rumors　out　of　our　Far　East　stations　which；　frankly；　most　of　us　believed　were　exaggerated　in　the　spreading；　and　paramount　among　them　was　your　name　and　that　of　the　assassin　Jason　Bourne。　The　scuttlebutt　then　was　that　you　were　responsible　for　the　capture　and　execution　of　the　killer　we　knew　as　Bourne；　yet　a　few　moments　ago　in　your　anger　you　used　the　phrase　'the　unknown　man　who　assumed　the　name　of　Jason　Bourne；'　stating　that　he　was　alive　and　in　hiding。　In　terms　of　specifics；　we're　at　a　loss…at　least　I　am；　God　knows。〃
　〃You　didn't　pull　the　record　out？〃
　〃No；〃　answered　DeSole。　〃That　was　my　decision。　As　you　may　or　may　not　know；　every　invasion　of　a　maximum…classified　file　is　automatically　marked　with　the　date　and　hour　of　penetration。　。。。　Since　the　director　informed　me　that　there　was　a　large　Security　Agency　flap　over　an　illegal　entry；　I　decided　to　leave　well　enough　alone。　Not　penetrated　in　nearly　five　years；　therefore　not　read　or　even　known　about　and　consequently　not　given　to　the　evil　people；　whoever　they　are。〃
　〃You　were　covering　your　ass　right　down　to　the　last　square　inch　of　flesh。〃
　〃Most　assuredly；　Alex。　That　data　has　a　White　House　flag　on　it。　Things　are　relatively　stable　around　here　now　and　it　serves　no　one　to　ruffle　feathers　in　the　Oval　Office。　There's　a　new　man　at　that　desk；　but　the　former　president　is　still　very　much　alive　and　opinionated。　He'd　be　consulted；　so　why　risk　trouble？〃
　Conklin　studied　each　face　and　spoke　quietly。　〃Then　you　really　don't　know　the　story；　do　you？〃
　〃It's　the　truth；　Alex；〃　said　Deputy　Director　Casset。
　〃Nothing　but；　you　pain；〃　agreed　Valentino；　permitting　himself　a　slight　smile。
　〃My　word　on　it；〃　added　Steven　DeSole；　his　clear；　wide　eyes　rigid　on　Conklin。
　〃And　if　you　want　our　help；　we　should　know　something　besides　contradictory　rumors；〃　continued　the　director；　leaning　back　in　his　chair。　〃I　don't　know　if　we　can　help；　but　I　do　know　there's　little　we　can　do　so　pletely　in　the　dark。〃
　Again　Alex　looked　at　each　man；　the　lines　in　his　pained　face　more　pronounced　than　ever；　as　if　the　decision　was　momentarily　too　agonizing　for　him。　〃I　won't　tell　you　his　name　because　I've　given　my　word…maybe　later；　not　now。　And　it　can't　be　found　in　the　record；　it's　not　there　either；　it's　a　cover…I　gave　my　word　on　that；　too。　The　rest　I'll　tell　you　because　I　do　want　your　help　and　I　want　that　record　to　remain　in　its　black　hole。　。。。　Where　do　I　begin？〃
　〃With　this　meeting　perhaps？〃　suggested　the　director。　〃What　prompted　it？〃
　〃All　right；　that'll　be　quick。〃　Conklin　stared　pensively　at　the　surface　of　the　table；　absently　gripping　his　cane；　then　raised　his　eyes。　〃A　woman　was　killed　last　night　at　an　amusement　park　outside　Baltimore…〃
　〃I　read　about　it　in　the　Post　this　morning；〃　interrupted　DeSole；　nodding；　his　full　cheeks　jiggling。　〃Good　Lord；　were　you…〃
　〃So　did　I；〃　broke　in　Casset；　his　steady　brown　eyes　on　Alex。　〃It　happened　in　front　of　a　shooting　gallery。　They　closed　the　guns　down。〃
　〃I　saw　the　article　and　figured　it　was　some　kind　of　terrible　accident。〃　Valentino　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃I　didn't　actually　read　it。〃
　〃I　was　given　my　usual　thick　sheaf　of　scissored　newspaper　stories；　which　is　enough　journalism　for　anyone　in　the　morning；〃　said　the　director。　〃I　don't　remember　any　such　article。〃
　〃Were　you　involved；　old　boy？〃
　〃If　I　wasn't；　it　was　a　horrible　waste　of　life。　。。。　I　should　say　if　we　weren't　involved。〃
　〃We？〃　Casset　frowned　in　alarm。
　〃Morris　Panov　and　I　received　identical　telegrams　from　Jason　Bourne　asking　us　to　be　at　the　amusement　park　at　nine